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  • Title: Apollonius of Tyre
  • Editors: Tom Bishop, Andrew Forsberg

  • Copyright Tom Bishop and Andrew Forsberg. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: John Gower
    Editors: Tom Bishop, Andrew Forsberg
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Apollonius of Tyre

    1655[Qualiter Athenagoras vrbis Mitelene Princeps, nauim Appollini inuestigans, ipsum sic contristatum nihilque respondentem consolari satagebat.]
    How Athenagoras, prince of the city of Mitelene, searching Appolinus's ship, made an effort to console him, while he was mourning and replying nothing.
    Whan thei this strange vessel syhe
    Come in, and hath his Seil avaled,
    The toun therof hath spoke and taled
    The lord which of the cite was,
    1660Whos name is Athenagoras,
    Was there, and seide he wolde se
    What Schip it is, and who thei be
    That ben therinne: and after sone,
    Whan that he sih it was to done,
    1665His barge was for him arraied,
    And he goth forth and hath assaied.
    He fond the Schip of gret Array,
    Bot what thing it amonte may,
    He seth thei maden hevy chiere,
    1670Bot wel him thenkth be the manere
    That thei be worthi men of blod,
    And axeth of hem hou it stod;
    And thei him tellen al the cas,
    Hou that here lord fordrive was,
    1675And what a sorwe that he made,
    Of which ther mai noman him glade.
    He preith that he here lord mai se,
    Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be,
    For he lith in so derk a place,
    1680That ther may no wiht sen his face:
    Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth,
    He fond the ladre and doun he goth,
    And to him spak, bot non ansuere
    Ayein of him ne mihte he bere
    1685For oght that he can don or sein;
    And thus he goth him up ayein.